Valve actuating device for can washers



June 1, 1937. J. M. M CLATCHIE VALVE ACTUATING DEVICE FOR CAN WASHERS Filed Feb. 5, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR J. M. MCCLATCHIE 2,082,458

June 1, I937.

VALVE ACTUATING DEVICE FOR CAN WASHERS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 5, 1936 T k a BY M NES June 1, 1937. J. M. McCLATCHIE VALVE ACTUATING DEV-ICE FOR CAN WASHERS Filed Feb. 5, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR m Mi J k e J a 2 7 J k m? 9 05 2 U a IIIIF y JbW/Z/V ZZ47ZW/A' I :5 E O R N EYS June 1, 1937. J. M, MCCLAT HIE 2,082,458

VALVE ACTUKTING DEVICE FOR CAN WASHERS Filed Feb. 5, 1956 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR June 1, 1937. J. M. MCCLATCHIE 2,982,458

VALVE ACTUATING DEVICE FOR CAN WASHERS Filed Feb. 5, 1936 e Sheets-Sheet 5 June 1, 1937. J. M. M CLATCHIE VALVE ACTUATING DEVICE FOR CAN WASHERS Filed Feb. 5, 1936 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR L/ZMV/V. /V 5 (24761995 W N: v m. h Y Q m mm W wk wm Ma R Q ha EATTO RN EYS Patented June 1, 1937 VALVE ACTUATING DEVICE FOR CAN WASHERS John M. McClatchie, New York, N. Y., assignor to The Borden Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application February 5, 1936, Serial No. 62,404

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improvement in devices for controlling. the operation of valves for admitting cleansing fluid to the nozzles of machines for washing large milk cans or the like, and is more particularly an improvement in the valve operating devices of the can washing machine disclosed in my Patent No. 1,914,144, such devices being commonly known as valve actuating devices for can washers.

In my said patent the can transporting carriage has an upward, forward, downward and backward movement in order to move a can from one station to the next and deposit it successively over the nozzles. In machines of this character, 5 a valve for controlling the passage of cleansing fluid is located opposite or corresponding to each nozzle, and it is necessary, in order not to waste cleansing fluid, to prevent the operation of a valve unless there is a can over the corresponding nozzle, and my said patent discloses means constructed and arranged to prevent the operation of a valve if the can is not placed over the corresponding nozzle. The object of the present invention is to simplify the construction and mode of operation of devices for controlling the operation of the valves which admit the cleansing fluids to the nozzles of can washing machines.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating as much of the machine disclosed and claimed in my said patent, and also in my Patent No. 2,023,431, as is necessary to an understanding ofthe present invention, Fig. 1 is a plan view of the can receiving end of the machine; Fig. 2 is a section, on an enlarged scale taken on the line 2-2 of Fig, 1; Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Fig; 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the machine looking from th can receiving end toward the can discharging end; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the devices at the" can receiving end of the machine for closing the first flap for controlling the operation of the first valve, the flap being shown in open position, indicating that no can has been placed in the machine; Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 with the first valve controlling flap closed, indicating that a can has been placed in the machine and is being transported to the first can washing station; Fig. 8 is a cross section of the'devices at the can receiving end of the machine for closing the first valve controlling flap; Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a portion of the can receiving end of the machine, showing the first valve controlling flap in closed position. and the next succeeding valve controlling flaps in open position; Fig. 10 is a'perspective view of one of the valve controlling flaps, viewed as in Fig. 3; Fig. 11 is a perspective view of one of the valve '5 controlling flaps, viewed from the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 10; and. Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the can receiving end of the machine, showing in detail one of the gears for imparting I to the transporting carriage its upward, forward, downward and backward movement.

As fully shown and described in my said patents, the can Washing machine comprises in general two stationary, longitudinally-extending can sup porting rails 32 provided at equally-spaced intervals with nozzles for the ejection therethrough of the can cleansing fluid, controlled in their operation by a series of valves corresponding to the nozzles. When a can has been emptied and is to be cleansed, it is placed upside down over the 0 first or false nozzle 33 at the can-receiving end of the machine. The can, indicated at'34 in Fig. 5 is lifted from over the false nozzle 33 and transported to the first efiective nozzle 35 by means of a carriage indicated generally at" 36 in Fig. 5, the construction and operation of which are fully shown and described in my Patent No. 2,023,431. In order to understand the operation of the valve controlling devices of the present invention, it is simply necessary to'know that for the purpose of transporting'the cans the carriage 36 is provided with a' longitudinally extending rail'38 for supporting one edge of the mouth of the can and a rail 39 against which the opposite side of the can rests. At the end of the downward movement of the carriage, the rail 38 is below the upper surface of the rails 32 and leaves the can standing thereon in inverted vertical position, as shown in Fig. 5.

The upward, forward, downward and backward movement is imparted to the can transporting carriage by two rectangular-shaped in ternal gears 46 (only one being shown) drivenby a pinion 4| mounted on the inner end of the shaft 42 on the outer end of which is mounted a bevelled gear 43 driven by a pinion 44 actuated by a chain-driven sprocket wheel 45. When a can is to be cleansed it is placed upside down over the false nozzle 33 and rests on the upper surfaces of the longitudinally-extending rails 32. It being assumed that the, carriage is at the limit of its backward travel, the cycle of movements of the carriage in transporting the can from the station 33 to the station or nozzle. 35 is first to lift the can from the rails 32 and then carry it forward until it is over the station 35, then lower the can until it again rests upon the upper surfaces of the rails 32, and then return to its initial position.

In machines of this character it is customary to have them operate or run continuously, regardless of whether the cans are constantly fed into the machine to cover each nozzle. It is, however, a waste of cleansing fluid to operate a valve if no can is over the nozzle corresponding to the valve. The devices of the present invention constitute a simplified and improved means for effecting the operation of a valve only when a can is placed over the nozzle correspond-: ing to the valve. This improved valve controlling means includes a series of flaps, the first of the series, that opposite the false nozzle 33 on the upward travel of the carriage, being indicated at 41 and the next three at 48, 49 and 56. The next succeeding flaps are not shown. The valve controlling flaps are pivotally mounted on a longitudinally-arranged bracket extending along one side of the can transporting carriage 36, and normally are pointing inoperatively downwardly, as shown in Figs. 9 and 12. Each flap is located at the rear end of an opening in the laterally-extending flange 52 of the bracket 53 and is adapted to close the opening, as shown by the first flap 41 in Figs. 7 and 9, when a can is over the corresponding nozzle.

Each valve 55, which corresponds to a nozzle, beginning with nozzle 35, may be of any conveniently operated type and as herein shown is a poppet valve having an upwardly projecting valve stem 56, the valve being opened when the valve stem 56 is depressed. The immediate means for depressing each valve stem 56 when a can is over the corresponding nozzle is an adjustable valve-actuating screw 51 threaded into a plate 60 mounted on anarm 63 the outer end of which is secured to a rock shaft 6| fulcrumed in the blocks 62 mounted on a longitudinallyextending angle iron 58 secured to the uprights of the frame of the machine. The arms 63 project inwardly toward the corresponding nozzles from the plates 60 and carry on their inner end a knob. Each arm 63 and its knob are normally held in the raised position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2 by means of a coiled spring 65 the lower end of which presses against the flange 59 of the longitudinally-extending angle iron 58 which supports the valves 55, and the upper end of which presses against a disk secured to the under surface of the outer end of the arm ,63 near the point where it is secured to the rock shaft 6|. When no cans are in the machine and the can transporting carriage is passing through its upward, forward, downward and backward path of travel the openings in the flange 52 clear the knobs of the arms 63 as the carriage moves upwardly and downwardly. This mode of operation will be readily apparent in considering Fig. 1, it being understood that there is no valve corresponding to the false nozzle 33 and that the first valve is opposite the nozzle 35.

In Fig. 1 the can transporting carriage 36 is shown at the limit of its backward movement and is about to rise. Since no can is in the machine all the flaps are in vertical position leaving their openings uncovered, and consequently the knob 10 on the end of the arm 63 of the first valve operating devices is cleared by the second opening 1| in the flange 52 of the can transporting carriage 36 as the latter rises. On

the forward movement of the carriage, that is, toward the discharging end of the machine, a movement to the right viewing Figs. 1 and 12, the first opening 12 in the flange 52 is brought opposite the knob 10, so that on the downward movement of the carriage the opening 12 clears the knob 16, without actuating the first valve, that corresponding to the nozzle 35. If no cans are placed in the machine over the first'or false nozzle 33, none of the flaps is closed and their openings in the flange 52 clear the knobs of the arms 63-on the upward movement of the carriage and then on the downward movement of the carriage. When, however, a can has been placed upside down on the rails 32 over the first or false nozzle 33, that results in the closing of the first flap 41 and the successive closing of thesucceeding flaps as the can is successively placed over the succeeding nozzles and the consequent operation of the valves corresponding to those nozzles.

.The mechanisnrfor closing the first flap 41 comprises a lever arm 14 secured at its outer upturned end to the underside of one end of a rock shaft 15 journalled in the parts 16 of the transporting carriage 36, as best indicated in Fig. 1. The inner end of the lever arm 14 is upturned and is provided with a plate-like formation 11 which, when a can is over the false nozzle 33, as indicated in Fig. 8, is located under one edge of the mouth18 of the can, so that when the transporting carriage 36 rises the plate 1.1 encounters the edge 18 of a the, can and is depressed, and so turns the shaft 15 in a counterclockwise direction, viewing Fig. 8. To the upper side of the end of the shaft 15, opposite the end to which the arm 14 issecured, is fastened an outwardly-extending arm 8 I having a downwardly and inwardlyprojecting portion 19 in which is located an adjustable screw adapted to bear against the underside of a flange 82 projecting upwardly and outwardly from a lever arm 83 pivoted at 34 on the can transporting carriage 36. The free end of the lever arm 83 is connected by a link 85 with a lever arm 86 secured to a pivot pin 81 journalled in the block 88 mounted on the carriage 36. On the outer end of the pivot pin 81 is secured the first valve controlling flap 41.

When the can has beenplaced over the first or false nozzle 33, as indicated at the left in Fig. 8, and the carriage 36 moves upwardly the plate 11 on the inner end of the lever arm 14 encounters the mouth 18 of the can andthe rock shaft 15 is thereby turned in a counterclockwisedirection, raising the downwardly projecting part 19 of the arm 8| .and bringing the adjustable screw 86 against the part 82 of the lever arm 83, causing the latter to be lifted'and swing the flap 41 into the first opening 12 in the flange 52 of the can carriage. The flap 41 remains closed in the opening 12 so long as the plate 11 is in contact with the mouth 18 of the can, that is to say, during the upward, forward and downward movement of the carriage. As the carriage moves downwardly the underside of the flap 41 encounters the knob 10 of the arm 63 controlling the first valve and depresses it, thereby operating the valve and causing the cleansing fluid to be ejected from the first nozzle 35. the backward movement of the can carriage, the can having been deposited on the rails 32, the plate "is freed from contact with the can, and the construction of the lever arrangement of which the plate 11 and the arm 14 are a part,

is such that they return to normal. position, as

shown in Fig. 8, so that the.- flap 41 isv swung downwardly as indicated in Figs. 1 and, 12.

As the carriage returns to its initial position, the knob 10 of the first arm 63 having been depressed by the flap 41 while the latter was opposite the nozzle 35, is retained depressed by means of the contact therewith of the under surface of that part of the flange 52 which-extends from the first opening 12 to the second opening H As the can carriage reaches the end of its backward movement the second flap 48 encounters the knob 19 and is swung into closed position. Assuming that only a single can has been placed in the ma.- chine, we shall follow it through the first part of the machine as it is subjected to the successive cleansing operation. On the next upward and forward travel of the can carriage, thesecond flap 48 comes opposite the nozzle 9|, over which the carriageon its downward movement deposits the can- The flap 48 having been closed by the knob 10, it encounters the knob 92 of the arm 93 of the second valve operating devices, and depresses it to admit cleansing fluid to the nozzle 9| and into the can. I

This same mode of operation is continued throughout the length of the machine, the can being deposited over the successive nozzles, and the flaps corresponding tothose nozzles having been closed at the end of the backward travel of the carriage by the preceding knob, the valve actuating devices opposite the succeeding nozzles are brought into action.

The construction of the flaps 48, 49 and 50 difiers somewhat from that of the first flap 41 and is best illustrated in Figs. 2, 3, l0 and 11. Each of these fiapsis mounted on the outer end of a pivot 95 located at the rear end of its re spective opening and journalled in a block 96 secured to the underside of a short angle iron 91 fastened to the rear side of the angle iron 53. On the inner end of the pivot 95 is secured a block 98 pressed downwardly by an elongated piece 99 held in place on the block 98 and on a plate II)! by means of the adjustable coil spring I02. The flaps 48, 49, 59 have in common with flap 41 only two positions, their normal inoperative vertical position, as indicated in Fig. 9, and their horizontal operative position as indicated in Figs. 2 and 11. are shown in. dotted. lines passing from the vertical inoperative position to the horizontal operative position, closing its. respective opening in flange 52. The piece 99 is loosely mounted so that it is readily raised by the turning of the block 98, and when the block has been turned far enough in either direction so that the point I93 thereof is beyond dead center the spring tension of the piece 99 on the block 98, causes the flap to assume either its horizontal or its vertical position.

As stated above, the flap 41 is always returned to its vertical position unclosing the first opening 12 on the backward movement of the carriage when the flap 4? has moved rearwardly far enough to clear' the knob 19 of the first valve operating devices. This mode of operation is necessary'so that the successive valves will not be operated unless the can carriage on its upward movement encounters a can placed over the first or false nozzle 33. The unclosing of the first opening 12 by the first flap 4'! assuming its vertical position results in all the flaps being successively moved to vertical position and unclosing their respective openings in the flange 52. This In Fig. 3 the flap and its. block,

mode of operation is effected in the. following manner: movement not having encountered a can at the first station or false nozzle 33, the first flap 4! remains in vertical position, leaving the first opening 12 uncovered. Consequently, when the carriage has moved forwardly to bring the opening 12 opposite the first real nozzle 35 and in alinement with the knob 10 of the first arm 63, the flap 41 passes inoperatively by the knob HI and the flange 52 descends below the knob 19,, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The first valve operating arm 83 not having been. depressed the knob 19 thereof remains above the flange 52 on the second backward travel of the carriage, with the result that when the carriage rises the third time the knob 79 of the first valve lever 63 encounters the flap 48 and swings it downwardly into vertical position, uncovering its opening H. On the next cycle of travel of the carriage the second opening H is brought opposite the knob 92 of the second valve actuating device and consequently this knob passes above the flange 52, so that on the third rearward movement of the carriage when the flap 49 is brought opposite the knob 92 and the carriage rises the fourth time the flap 49 is swung downwardly into its vertical inoperative position, uncovering the third opening 90. The succeeding flaps are moved into inoperative position in like manner. It will be understood that while the knobs of the valve actuating devices are successively opening the flaps opposite the stations or nozzles over which no can has been deposited that the succeeding flaps remain closed so long as the can is successively moved from one station or nozzle to the next.

It will be understood; from the description given above that when the machine is operating at full capacity, that is to say, with a can over each nozzle, the valves corresponding to the nozzles will be operated each time the carriage descends. Under this condition of operation all the flaps (except the first one on the backward stroke of the carriage) are held continuously closed, in order to actuate their respective valve operating devices on the downward stroke of the carriage. If now there is an interruption in feeding the cans into the machine, say the missing of one can, the first flap 4'! will be openwhen the carriage descends and so permit the knob 19- of the first arm 63 to be positioned above the flange 52. On the next backward movement of the carriage, the flap 48, (which has just served to depress the knob 92 to cause cleansing fluid to be directed into the can over the nozzle 9|), will be under the knob 19 on the next upward stroke of the carriage and be swungdownwardly into vertical inoperative position. As described above, all the succeeding flaps will be encountered successively by the knobs in alinement with them on the upward stroke of the carriage to open them, so that on the succeeding downward stroke of the carriage the valves opposite the uncovered openings in the flange 52 will not be operated. If now only one can is missing in the line of cans, the flap 41 will be closed on the next downward stroke of the carriage and will depress the knob 10, and then as the carriage moves backwardly the knob 19 will encounter the flap 48 and raise it intohorizontal position, so that on the next downward stroke of the carriage the flap 48 will de press the knob 92. The like mode of operation will continue with the remaining flaps and knobs, each succeeding flap being closed on the back- The can carriage on its next upward.

ward stroke of the carriage by the preceding knob, and serving to depress the knob in alinement with it when the carriage is on its downward stroke.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is:-

1. In a can washing machine having a series of upwardly projecting equally spaced nozzles, a longitudinally arranged carriage having an upward, forward, downward and backward movement for placing a can in inverted position over the nozzles successively, said carriage being provided laterally with a series of equally spaced openings corresponding to the nozzles, the secnd opening of the series being opposite the first nozzle at the limit of the backward movement of the carriage, a series of valve operating devices arranged longitudinally beside the carriage and corresponding to the nozzles, each valve op-' erating device having an inwardly extending arm with a knob on its free end in the vertical plane of the openings in the carriage, said knobs having a normal position about half way between the limit of the upward and downward movements of the carriage, a movable fiap located at the rear edge of each opening having a normal vertical position leaving its opening uncovered and an operative horizontal position closing its opening, and means for closing the first flap when a can is placed in the machine and the carriage rises with the can.

2. A can washing machine having a series of equally spaced upwardly projecting nozzles, a longitudinally arranged carriage having an upward, forward, downward and backward movement adapted to place cans in inverted position over the nozzles successively, said carriage being provided laterally with a longitudinally extending shelf in which is located a series of equally spaced openings corresponding to the nozzles, a series of valve operating devices arranged longitudinally beside the carriage and corresponding respectively to the nozzles, each valve operating device having an inwardly extending arm with a knob on its free end in the vertical plane of the openings in the shelf when the carriage is at the limit of its forward and backward movements, said knob having a normal position halfway of the upward and downward movements of the carriage, a pivotally mounted flap at the rear edge of each opening, each said flap having adownwardly extending vertical position uncovering its opening and a horizontal position covering its opening, means for closing the first flap when a can is placed in the machine and the carriage rises with the can, said closed first flap acting to depress the knob of the first valve operating device on the first downward movement of the carriage, said depressed knob being held depressed by the shelf on the backward movement of the carriage so that it closes the second fiap, said first flap being arranged to resume its vertical position on the backward movement of the carriage so that if not closed by a can on the second upward movement of the carriage it clears on the second downward movement of the carriage the knob of the first valve operating device which remains above the shelf on the backward movement of the carriage to be in position to strike and openthe second fiap on the next upward movementof the carriage.

3. In a can washing machine having a series of equally spaced upwardly projecting nozzles, a longitudinally arranged carriage having an upward, forward, downward andbackward movement for placing cans in inverted position over the nozzles successively, said carriage being provided laterally with a series of equally spaced openings corresponding to the nozzles, a series of valve operating devices arranged longitudinally beside the carriage and corresponding to the nozzles, each valve operating device having an inwardly extending arm with a knob on its free end in the vertical plane of the openings in the carriage, a movable flap at the rear edge of each opening normally projecting downwardly leaving its opening uncovered, the knobs beingso positioned that when no can is in the machine and the carriage is operating the openings corresponding to the knobs clear the knobs on the upward and downward strokes of the carriage, means for closing the first flap when a can is inserted in the machine and the carriage rises, said closed first fiap serving on the next downward stroke of the carriage to depress the first knob and actuate the first valve operating device, said first knob being held depressed on the backward stroke of the carriage to close the second flap, so that on the next downward stroke of the carriage the second knob is depressed and its valve operating device actuated.

4. In a machine of the character described having a series of equally spaced nozzles, a longitudinally arranged can transporting carriage having an upward, forward, downward and backward movement, said carriage being provided with a series of equally spaced openings, a series of valve operating devices arranged longitudinally beside the carriage and corresponding in position to the nozzles, said valve operating devices having inwardly extending arms the free ends of which are in the vertical plane of the openings in the carriage, the second opening in the carriage at the limit of the backward stroke of the carriage being in alinement with the first arm and the first opening in the carriage being in alinement with said first arm at the limit of the forward stroke of the carriage, a pivoted flap located at the rear edge of each opening and normally projecting downwardly leaving the openings unclosed, means for closing the first fiap when a can is inserted in the machine and is lifted by the carriage, said closed first flap on the next downward stroke of the carriage serving to depress the first arm and actuate the first valve, said first arm being held depressed by the carriage on the backward stroke thereof to close the second flap.

5. In a machine of the character described, a longitudinally arranged can transporting carriage having an upward, forward, downward and backward movement, said carriage being provided laterally with a longitudinally extending shelf in which is located a series of equally spaced openings, a series of valve operating devices arranged longitudinally beside the carriage and corresponding to the openings therein, the free ends of said valve operating devices being normally above the openings in the carriage when the latter is moving backwardly and being normally below the openings when the carriage is moving forwardly, a downwardly projecting flap located at each opening adapted to be moved to close its respective opening, means for closing the first flap when a can is on the carriage on its first upward movement, said first flap in closed position causing the first valve operating device to be depressed on the downward movement of the carriage, said shelf keeping said first valve operating device depressed on the backward movement of the carriage so that it is encountered by the next downwardly projecting flap and moves the latter into closed position.

6. In a machine of the character described, a longitudinally arranged can transporting carriage having an upward, forward, downward and backward movement, said carriage being provided with a series of equally spaced openings, a downwardly projecting flap located at each opening adapted to be moved to close its respective opening, a series of valve operating devices corresponding to the openings projecting into the path of 'the upward and downward movements of their respective openings in the carriage when no cans are on the carriage opposite the valve operating devices, means for closing the first flap when a can is on the carriage on the first upward movement thereof, the closing of said first flap causing the first valve operating device to be pushed downwardly on the downward movement of the carriage, so that on the backward movement of the carriage the valve operating device encounters the second fiap and closes it.

'7. In a machine of the character described, a longitudinally arranged can transporting carriage having an upward, forward, downward and backward movement, said carriage being provided with a series of equally spaced openings, a series of valve operating devices corresponding to the openings in the carriage, the second opening being in alinement with the first valve operating device on the upward movement of the carriage, and the first opening being in alinement with said first valve operating device on the downward movement of the carriage, a downwardly projecting flap located at each opening adapted to be moved to close its respective opening, means for closing the first flap when a can is first lifted by the carriage so that on the first downward movement of the carriage the first valve Operating device is depressed, the backward movement of the carriage serving to keep the valve operating device depressed so that it closes the second flap when the second opening in the carriage is in alinement with the first valve operating device, said closed second flap acting to depress the second valve operating device on the next downward movement of the carriage.

JOHN M. MCCLATCHIE. 

